Part II

12. Awake, awake, Deborah, Awake, awake—utter the song; Arise, Barak, and lead captive thy captives, son of Abinoam!BHOTV3 112.2

13. Then went down a remnant of the mighty, of the people, Jehovah went down for me among the heroes!BHOTV3 112.3

14. From out of Ephraim—his root in Amalek; ^{28There seems an allusion here to the ancient glory of the tribes: Ephraim, from which sprang Joshua, the conqueror of Amalek.} After thee: Benjamin among thy nations ^{29“Nations,” here equivalent to heathens, and the reference is to Ehud.}—From Machir ^{30Machir is Manasseh, Genesis 50:23.} come down they who bear rule, From Zebulon who draw out with the staff of the writer. ^{31These two tribes then distinguished for peaceful avocations. Such was the former glory of Israel. In the next stanza Deborah proceeds to sketch the present state of the tribes.}BHOTV3 112.4

15. But the princes of Issachar were with Deborah—And Issachar the foundation ^{32In his territory the battle was fought—the rendering “foundation” is after the Jewish commentaries.} of Barak, Pouring on foot into the valley! By the brooks of Reuben great resolves of heart ^{33Here begins the censure of the tribes who should have taken part.}BHOTV3 112.5

16. Why abodest thou among the folds To hear the flutes of the flocks? By the brooks of Reuben great ponderings of heart!BHOTV3 112.6

17. Gilead dwells on the other side Jordan! ^{34Such is its plea.} And Dan, who pass upon ships? Asher sitteth by the seashore, And by its bays resteth!BHOTV3 112.7

18. Zebulon a people that jeoparded its life unto death, And Naphtali on the heights of the field!BHOTV3 113.1

19. Came kings warred Then warred the kings of Canaan, In Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo Spoil of silver took they none!BHOTV3 113.2

20. From heaven warred, The stars out of their paths warred against Sisera!BHOTV3 113.3

21. The river Kishon swept them away, River of encounters, ^{35The common rendering is “ancient river;” Cassel translates “river of help.” I prefer “battle,” the root being: to meet or to encounter, obviam ire. Kishon, “the winding one.” Ancient Jewish tradition has it that this battle was fought on the Passover, which is not unlikely, as the Kishon is swollen during the rainy season, but quite dry in summer.} River Kishon! March forth my soul in strength!BHOTV3 113.4

22. Then clattered the hoofs of the horse From the racing and chasing ^{36In their flight. In the original the word is simply repeated.} of his mighty.BHOTV3 113.5

23. Curse ye Meroz, ^{37Probably a place near Endor, whose inhabitants joined not in the pursuit of Sisera.} saith the Angel of Jehovah, Curse ye—cursed its inhabitants, For they came not to the help of Jehovah, The help of Jehovah against the mighty!BHOTV3 113.6